Fire strikes at mobile home park

Members of the Naugatuck Fire Department and Beacon Hose Company No. 1 work at the scene of a structure fire that destroyed a house trailer and severely damaged another in a mobile home park at 129 Lewis Street in Naugatuck on Monday. –RA ARCHIVE

NAUGATUCK — Three adults have been displaced after a fast moving fire ripped through two mobile homes on Lewis Street on Monday afternoon.

The fire started in trailer home number 21 and spread to number 19, destroying number 21 and severely damaging number 19.

Flames spread to the roof of number 21, and the trailer was fully engulfed before anyone noticed and dialed 911, firefighters said.

There was very little firefighters could do other than try to contain the spread of flames.

“When we arrived, there was heavy fire in the first unit that quickly spread,” said Fire Chief Ken Hanks, who was first on scene.

Nobody was injured.

Investigators believe the fire ignited by accident.

Acting Fire Marshal Bob Weaver said the origin of the flames has been traced back to the living room of trailer number 21. The fire then spread to trailer number 19. Both homes have been deemed uninhabitable until further notice; it is possible number 19 may be saved, though number 21 is a total loss and will likely be demolished, firefighters said.

The fire appears to have started near a baseboard heater, Weaver said. Investigators are trying to determine whether there were combustible materials nearby that may have led to flames.

“The exact cause is still under investigation, though we are confident in saying this was accidental because there were no signs of arson,” Weaver said.

The tenants of number 19 were Rhonda Williams and Raymond Cicci, Weaver said. A woman had just moved her belongings into number 21 on Monday, but had not moved in because her pipes were frozen. Weaver said he would not release her name because she had not yet signed a lease.

The American Red Cross responded to provide temporary shelter for those displaced.

Number 21 is owned by Xenix Sun Properties LLC, and number 19 is owned by Gary Ellin, according to Naugatuck land records. Both have Middlebury post office boxes listed as addresses.

Members of the Naugatuck Fire Department and Beacon Hose Company No. 1 work at the scene of a structure fire that destroyed a house trailer and severely damaged another in a mobile home park at 129 Lewis Street in Naugatuck on Monday. –RA ARCHIVE

Weaver said an owner of Xenix Sun Properties had just turned on the heat in trailer number 21 hours before the fire broke out. The owner was at another trailer when he noticed smoke and flames. He and other tenants called 911.

Firefighters also faced a downed wire when responding to the scene. A utility wire dropped on top of Fire Engine No. 4 as soon as firefighters arrived.

“That caused a little delay in our response, but nobody was injured,” Hanks said, adding that the truck sustained some damage, but is still in service.

Firefighters from Oxford and Beacon Falls provided assistance at the scene.